Planning

NoWcard Concessionary Travel System (Managed Service)

LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

03 Oct 2025 at 07:36

Planning

26 Sep 2025 at 15:18

Summary of the contracting process

Lancashire County Council is overseeing the planning stage of a tendering process titled "NoWcard Concessionary Travel System (Managed Service)". This procurement falls under the industry category of goods, specifically focusing on industry-specific software packages. The project seeks a competent managed service provider to furnish and operate an ITSO-compliant NoWcard system, crucial for enabling concessionary travel within the northwestern regions of the UK, including Cumberland, Westmorland & Furness, Blackburn with Darwen, and Blackpool. The early market engagement is open until 30th October 2025, with the contract slated to commence on 1st July 2026. The procurement will use a competitive flexible procedure, and the future notice is expected by 5th January 2026. The total estimated budget for this project is £1,000,000.

This tender presents a lucrative opportunity for IT service providers specialising in smart card systems and asset management software. Companies adept in handling ITSO-compliant systems, especially those with innovative solutions for asset management, card management, and secure application module management, would find this tender particularly beneficial. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are marked as suitable competitors, indicating an inclusive consideration of diverse business sizes. By securing this contract, businesses can expand their market presence within the public transport sector and form strategic partnerships with government councils in the region.

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Notice Title

NoWcard Concessionary Travel System (Managed Service)

Notice Description

NoWcard is a transport smart card pass, most commonly for the elderly or disabled, available for use in Cumberland, Westmorland & Furness, Lancashire County Council (LCC), Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool administrative areas. It is administered by LCC on behalf of all NoWcard members with the smart card recording journey details and verifies eligibility for the concessionary travel. LCC wish to engage a managed service provider to supply and maintain an ITSO (Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation) compliant NoWcard system, which is composed of the following components; 1. Asset Management System - Host Operator Processing System (AMS - HOPS) 2. ITSO Secure Application Module (ISAM) management 3. Cardholder and Card Management System (CMS) - English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) and Commercial Schemes 4. On-line application (web portal) - integration of ENCTS and existing commercial CMS 5. Print and Dispatch

Planning Information

The early market engagement process is detailed within the Request for Information (RFI). Copies of the RFI documentation will be available at https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/. Interested bidders are recommended to revisit this link regularly for updates on questions and answers that LCC have received. Interested parties should complete the RFI returnable form and send to digitalprocurement@lancashire.gov.uk on or before the 30th October 2025. Lancashire County Council (LCC) intend to run the early market engagement via a desktop review, however LCC reserves the right to invited interest parties to a follow-up discussion to better understand their RFI response.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a385
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061964-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems


CPV Codes

48100000 - Industry specific software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN BOROUGH COUNCIL

BLACKPOOL COUNCIL

CUMBERLAND COUNCIL

SOCIAL VALUE PORTAL LTD

WESTMORLAND AND FURNESS COUNCIL

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
digitalprocurement@lancashire.gov.uk, ftsprocurementnotices@blackpool.gov.uk, peopleprocurement@cumbria.gov.uk, procurement.mailbox.waf@cumbria.gov.uk, procurement@blackburn.gov.uk, sales@socialvalueportal.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
PRESTON
Postcode
PR1 0LD
Post Town
Preston
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
TLD1 Cumbria, TLD4 Lancashire

Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Vauxhall
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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